_Original.png "Junction 38 Truckstop")
Background
Opened in 1972 and located just off the M6 motorway in Penrith, Cumbria, the J38 Truckstop is a truly unique, family-owned service stop owned and operated by Westmorland. The services include a wide parking area, a gas station, shops, and a restaurant, providing a popular stop-off for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) traffic and general traffic on to a journey south, on the route from the North East of England to Lancashire.
The site had been running reliably on HUB’s original parking system for 15 years, offering capacity for 94 HGVs at any one time and totaling over 50,000 transits per year. Due to the exceptional performance of the previous system, the owners – working in tandem with Highways England - entrusted HUB UK with the modernization of the parking access and control system, to elevate the customer services. The parking solution needed to be capable of managing high traffic volumes through controlled entry and exit lanes, whilst ensuring a frictionless experience for drivers. New equipment would also need to be compatible with the large and heavy vehicles transits. Finally, it was essential that any upgrade allowed for seamless integration with the existing payment system, minimizing disruption to the site’s busy day-to-day operations.
Client requirements
- Robust and reliable on-site parking system, with barriers and compact stations (slim line)
- Bespoke height mounting for trucks and larger vehicles
- Camera-based License Plate Recognition (LPR)
- Contract parkers management for recurring customers
- Seamless integration with the existing digital payment options and fee computer FCJ
- Pay at exit configuration for transient vehicles
- Advanced management and reporting capabilities through JMS software (cloud parking system)
- Digital parking validation though J4M
- 5-year service and assistance contract
Solution
HUB UK introduced an innovative automated parking solution that seamlessly integrates LPR (License Plate Recognition) technology with a ticketed barrier entry system. This access control configuration blends in smoothly with the truck stop infrastructure and has significantly optimized operations.
The entry process is straightforward: LPR cameras automatically scan and log the vehicle’s number plate upon arrival. If the vehicle is in the authorized list, the system instantly recognizes it and raises the barrier for seamless free flow entry. If the vehicle plate does not match with an active subscription, the entry station issues a ticket, granting access to the parking area and nearby services.
The payment process is simple and convenient: both recurring parkers - whose license plate is on the authorized list - and transient ones can pay at the manual payment station located in the shop (FCJ Fee Computer). The manned station integrates with J4M - web parking validation platform, offering multiple validation options, from partial to full discounts.
The exit process is equally frictionless: the LPR system scans the number plate as the truck approaches the exit, automatically raising the barrier if the vehicle plate holds a subscription or has already paid. A vehicle detection loop ensures smooth operation by triggering the exit station as the car enters the exit lane.
The truck stop staff monitors and manages the car park operations through JMS, HUB’s digital parking management system. Its user-friendly dashboard allows the personnel to monitor the car park operations in real-time, receiving live reports with regards to occupancy, revenue statistics, and much more for smart parking control.
After a short customer training session on the new digital parking software, they were ready to go. In addition, the operator has secured a 5-year service and assistance contract with HUB UK, ensuring that they receive all the necessary aftercare, technical support and maintenance required for the continued success of their new parking management system.
The smart barrier and parking system addition to the site not only transforms the look and feel of the entrance and exit to the truck stop services, but also allows operators to efficiently manage access, subscriptions, and payment.
Resting and refueling at the J38 truck stop services just got even smoother, thanks to HUB UK’s collaboration with Highways England and the Westmorland family.
“The HUB team were a pleasure to work with from inception, planning and delivery of our new hybrid traffic barrier system at Junction 38 Truck Stop. Nothing was too much trouble. Our customers are now enjoying the benefits of a modern and efficient traffic barrier system.” John France - Facilities and Estates Project Manager at Westmorland
About HUB Parking Technology
HUB Parking Technology is the brand of FAAC Technologies that develops, manufactures, installs, and provides after-sales services for Parking Access and Revenue Control Systems. HUB controls all product phases from design to code writing, to distribution, installation, and post-installation support through an extensive network of company branches and value-added partners worldwide.
HUB product range, Jupiter, is designed for long term performance, to future-proof the operators and owners’ investments: thanks to scalable features and enhanced serviceability, it streamlines the parking experience for users while providing a profitable and easy to manage solution to operators. HUB software allows PARCS management 24/7 from anywhere, through a multi-tenant cloud and/or on-premises architecture. Consumer mobile apps for reservation and operator apps for validation complete the system range with solutions catering to transient and contract parkers. Visit www.hubparking.com to learn more.
